Industrial Project Manager

Join Our Team Velocity Flow Technologies is seeking a highly organized and results-oriented Industrial Project Manager to lead the execution of custom-engineered manufacturing, automation, and capital equipment projects from customer order release through installation, commissioning, and final acceptance. This position serves as the primary coordinator for projects involving engineering, fabrication, automation, quality, supply chain, vendors, field installation teams, and customers. The Industrial Project Manager is responsible for ensuring projects are executed safely, efficiently, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with customer requirements and company quality standards. Success in this role requires strong organizational skills, technical aptitude, proactive problem-solving, and the ability to build trusted relationships across multiple functions in a fast-paced industrial manufacturing environment. Typical projects involve custom-engineered equipment, industrial automation systems, fabricated assemblies, customer site installations, startup activities, and commissioning efforts requiring close collaboration between engineering, manufacturing, automation, and field service teams. This position manages physical equipment and manufacturing system projects and is not a software development or information technology project management role. Reporting to the Vice President of Engineering, this role also supports strategic product development and continuous improvement initiatives that contribute to the company’s long-term growth and operational excellence. Key Responsibilities Lead projects from official customer order release through installation, startup, commissioning, and final customer acceptance. Develop and maintain project schedules, milestones, deliverables, and action plans. Coordinate activities across engineering, manufacturing, automation, quality, supply chain, and field installation teams. Identify project risks, develop mitigation plans, and proactively resolve issues impacting scope, schedule, quality, or cost. Facilitate regular project review meetings and communicate project status to internal stakeholders and customers. Customer & Vendor Management Serve as the primary point of contact for customers throughout project execution. Build strong customer relationships through consistent communication, responsiveness, and professional project leadership. Coordinate with suppliers, subcontractors, integrators, and service providers to ensure project requirements and schedules are achieved. Manage customer expectations while balancing operational and technical requirements. Engineering, Manufacturing & Automation Coordination Partner closely with engineering teams to ensure designs, drawings, specifications, and technical deliverables support project requirements. Coordinate manufacturing activities to support project schedules and customer commitments. Work with automation and controls teams to ensure software integration, testing, commissioning, and startup milestones are achieved. Facilitate collaboration between departments to resolve technical and operational challenges. Installation, Startup & Commissioning Support Coordinate project activities associated with equipment installation, startup, commissioning, and customer acceptance. Support field service teams, contractors, and customer representatives during installation and commissioning phases. Monitor project progress and resolve issues that may impact successful project completion. Participate in customer site visits as necessary to support project execution. Financial & Schedule Management Track project schedules, budgets, commitments, and key performance indicators. Maintain accurate project documentation, records, and status reports. Escalate significant project risks and recommend corrective actions when necessary. Support project forecasting and resource planning activities. Continuous Improvement Contribute to the development and improvement of project management processes, reporting structures, and execution standards. Support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives that improve project delivery performance. Capture and communicate lessons learned to strengthen future project execution. New Product Development & Strategic Projects Support new product introduction efforts by coordinating activities across engineering, automation, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and sales teams. Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives as assigned by executive leadership. Assist with the implementation of processes and systems that improve organizational effectiveness and scalability. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, Construction Management, Manufacturing, Project Management, or related technical discipline; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Seven or more years of project management experience within industrial manufacturing, automation, capital equipment, mechanical systems, construction, material handling, or related industries. Experience leading cross‑functional projects involving engineering, fabrication, automation, manufacturing, and field installation activities. Strong organizational, communication, problem‑solving, and leadership skills. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously. Preferred Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Construction Management background. PMP certification or equivalent project management training. Experience with industrial automation, controls integration, commissioning, and startup activities. Experience with Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and new product development processes. Experience working with custom‑engineered equipment, industrial systems, or capital projects. Proven ability to build strong relationships with customers, suppliers, contractors, and internal teams. Job Schedule and Location This position requires working Monday‑Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Occasional overtime may be required based on business needs. Job is onsite, not remote. There is no relocation package with this job. Candidate must live within 30 miles of the Salina location. Benefits Health, Life, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Cancer insurance. Company 401(k) retirement plan. Great company culture and state‑of‑the‑art work environment. #J-18808-Ljbffr